Helloooooooo!!! It's so lovely to be back in the Attic - as you may know I was away in France last week teaching the second of my two crochet retreats with Stitchtopia Craft Holidays.
I had a wonderful time and am really looking forward to going through alllllll my photos and creating a full blog post to share the details of the retreats with you. It was such a great experience and I absolutely loved spending time in France, it was extremely relaxing and uplifting. By the way, I've had a good number of messages on Instagram and Facebook asking for more details about my crochet retreats - you can visit the Stitchtopia website and sign up for their mailing list, or email them directly and ask to be kept in the loop about what I'll be doing next year. I've agreed to teach a further two weeks next year although at the moment I don't know when or where. It's very exciting and I am already thinking about what projects I'd like to create especially for these very special retreats.
Before I left I wrote up a short post to share with you while I was gone but unfortunately my scheduling timer thingy on Typepad didn't work (grrrr) and the post disappeared into the ether never to be seen again. I don't think you missed out too much (asparagus and ice cream and crochet squares amongst other miscellaneous observations), but even so, I was cross that it didn't work out. Still - I'm back again now, adjusting to life on the domestic home front after being gloriously un-domestic all of last week.
As is often the case after I've been away from home it's taking a while for things to settle. I've felt tired and discombobulated the past few days, and with J working away from home I've felt a tad lonesome too. This morning after dropping Little B at school I decided to walk through the park and visit the farm shop, partly for the fresh air and exercise, partly because I needed to buy something for dinner and partly because I just wasn't ready to go home.
I noticed that the elderflowers are still quite a way away from bloom-time (they were already in flower in France) but if the weather remains warm and sunny then I expect they will be ready to pick in a few weeks time.
I enjoyed the farm shop, it was a quiet time to visit and I took my time selecting produce and choosing something yummy for dinner (ingredients for a Greek salad and a simple Tabbouleh salad, with some sliced ham from the deli counter). I also picked up a latte and what d'you know, a little bit of something sweet fell into my basket from the bakery section too...no idea how that happened.
On my way back through the park I took a seat at my favourite picnic table near the cherry trees and enjoyed my sunshiny morning coffee and pastry very much. So good! It felt like early summer, everything so green and bright and the sun gorgeously warm on my face.
My shopping bag was on the bench next to me as I sat and drank my coffee and I just loved the sight of my farm shop purchases nestled all together. It reminded me of the early days of my blog when I used to share the results of my little shopping trips from time to time - this post was the third post I ever wrote back in March 2008, sharing the contents of my bag after a weekly jaunt through town.
Tomatoes, asparagus and flat leaf parlsey to feed the family.
Tulips and chocolate to feed my soul.
This chocolate it soooo hard to resist and I've been enjoying it for several years since the farm shop started selling it. It's made by a little company based in York (Choc Affair) and is the most heavenly chocolate you can imagine. The flavours are incredible and as you would expect I am mostly drawn to the Summery ones....Lime and Sea Salt is my absolute fave, but my goodness the Raspberry and Rose is like summer melting in your mouth. A beautiful treat and one I never feel guilty about indulging in. I am worth it!
These tulips were in a bucket at the till and were half price, so of course I found myself picking them up and tucking them in my bag. Pretty irresistible wouldn't you say?
I chose my rainbow striped jug to go with these flamboyant blooms, oh my heart....such a b-e-a-u-tiful sight on my table today!!!
Love love love. LOVE them!
Something else that came home in my bag was a few springs of cow parsley. This stuff grows rampant along the edge of the trees at the top of the park and every year I like to bring a little bit home. I can't have it indoors as the smell is pretty disgusting but I love to have it on my back yard table.
When I came home from my walk it was around 10am and delightfully warm so I set up my outdoor table ready for a few hours of al fresco coffee/chocolate/planner-time/hooky delight.
I just adore cow parsley and it's one of the many (many, many) reasons that May is my favourite month. It grows in great abundance around here so I don't feel bad about bringing a little bit of it home - those teensy flowers deserve to be observed and enjoyed in detail, they are just a delight.
So...........yarny goings on are currently revolving around my bag of scraps and I couldn't be happier. This colour palette is just so unbelievably pretty and perfect for this time of year, like Spring rolling into early Summer. It's light and fresh, airy and warm and I absolutely adore it. There are thirty colours in total (although a few colours are pretty much all used up now), left overs from the making of my Sweet Pea and Dune blankets.
Last week while I was away in France I began making some Baby Bunting triangles. I wanted an easy project that could be hooked up whilst chatting and drinking fizzy rosé wine (haha, how very decadent!), and these were perfect.
I designed this pattern in 2014 for Simply Crochet magazine, and over the years I've made quite a few versions of it (the original version was all in blues). It's a really lovely little pattern (if I do say so myself), three simple rounds of trebles, then a little decorative edging to finish.
I'm planning on creating a tutorial for the bunting as I've been asked for the pattern a lot over the years and had always meant to find time to share it. Aren't the colours scrumptious?
So today I finished making fifteen triangles and they are ready to be joined along the top with 3 rows of crochet and finished with some buttons.
I'll try and make time to photograph the step by step tutorial during the next week or so, all being well. I know many of you who have been making blankets along with me will have a stash of left over yarn just like mine, and might perhaps enjoy a little bit of a decorative project.
I've not forgotten about my granny bag either - remember me showing you the beginnings of my squares a few weeks ago?
I've got enough now (I made 36, although I only need 32, I got a bit carried away), and similar to the bunting I'll be photographing my progress as I join them and create my bag so that I can make a tutorial for you. I am so excited about both of these projects, it feels just like old times when I used to get so caught up in my creative ideas and little decorative makes.
I am currently fighting the ridiculously strong urge to start making another blanket (the addiction is real) and these small projects are helping a lot. Must. Stay. Focused.
What blanket?!
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I also love May. I find myself taking masses of ‘cow parsley waving on the verges’ photos! It’s addictive every spring.
Posted by: Rachel | June 09, 2019 at 05:25 PM
I LOVE the bunting. My sister has just moved out of home and of course I turned her old room into a home studio! I've been on the lookout for something to decorate the room with and this bunting is exactly what I've been looking for. A pattern would be AMAZING :)
Posted by: Rhiannon | June 08, 2019 at 12:39 AM
Everything looks so beautiful. Love your yarn color combinations..like a delicious dish of candy.
Posted by: tammy | May 27, 2019 at 06:01 PM
Another lovely blog Lucy...thank you x
Posted by: Nora McGrann | May 24, 2019 at 08:33 PM
Oh my goodness, lime and seasalt dark chocolate, I can't think of anything better. I would have quite enjoyed being a chocolatier I think, coming up with lots of dreamy things. But I probably wouldn't be safe let loose with all the chocolate. The farm shop sounds good, I do love lots of healthy local produce to choose from. CJ xx
Posted by: CJ | May 24, 2019 at 10:28 AM
you have to do a french inspired one surely !!!
Posted by: Julie Owen | May 23, 2019 at 06:24 PM
You have GOT to do a hexagonal or star-of-David pattern blanket with those bunting triangles someday ...
Posted by: Janis | May 23, 2019 at 05:48 PM
So pleased you are back, I have missed my fix of your fabulous creative colourfulness. I love your blog. I used up nearly all my leftover Sweet Pea yarn making a blanket out of mitered square join as you go following the colour order from your blog. I took it to my weekly knitting group and our host fell in love with it for her 2 year old daughter, so when it was finally finished with a garter stitch border that had over 1000 stitches and took nearly 3 hours to cast off I gave it to her. She was delighted, I love to share the love of yarny things.
but now I have seen your bunting I was I had saved a little so that I could make some. That might be an excuse to pop down to my LYS and see if I can get the same colours there, 1 ball at a time so I can sneak it into the house as I am supposed to be using up my rather large stash!
Posted by: Jane | May 23, 2019 at 04:42 PM
The stacks of squares and triangles are even more delicious than looking into a bakery showcase - WOW! Missed you and glad you have returned.
Posted by: Mary W | May 23, 2019 at 02:51 PM
Hi Lucy....
love, love, 💕 your posts, they do make me giggle as you write like my brain works..lol.
Question; I noticed your blue crochet hook, posing next to one bunting, love this type of hook & my one 4mm is in constant use, would like to get a few more but am finding them hard to come by. Do you know a good supplier?
Posted by: Pam | May 23, 2019 at 02:30 PM
I can't wait for you to post the pattern. I need a little project and it does look beautiful in the sweet pea colours x
Posted by: Susan | May 23, 2019 at 12:40 PM
I just love looking at your blogs. Gorgeous photos. Those tulips are to die for x
Posted by: Kate Darby | May 23, 2019 at 12:24 PM
Lovely blog as usual Lucy.It was delightful to be free to crochet last week in the chateau, and chat to like-minded people. Such a delight.
Posted by: Josephine Firth | May 23, 2019 at 10:16 AM
Hi Lucy, May is also my favourite month. I think it’s not only that everything is fresh and green but the anticipation of summer coming. I live on the coast in East Devon and just noticed Elderflowers in bloom this morning on my way home from the supermarket. I am planning to make some bunting to go in our new summerhouse but I have two baby blankets that I MUST finish first.
Posted by: Pam | May 23, 2019 at 09:46 AM
Very pretty ! I love how the colors mix together so well :)
Posted by: Woola Oops | May 23, 2019 at 09:03 AM
Thank you for another lovely blog post! It has lifted my spirits enormously!!
Posted by: Lea Lynch | May 23, 2019 at 09:01 AM
I love reading your blogs so lovely. I told myself I have enough blankets and I mustnt make anymore but my finger slipped (nose growing) and the cosy blanket appeared in the post and 6 days later its almost finished (serious addiction) I promised myself I would stick to small projects!!!!!! Aaargh I blame you lucy he he he THANKYOU X
Posted by: Jacqui | May 23, 2019 at 07:15 AM
I love reading your blogs so lovely. I told myself I have enough blankets and I mustnt make anymore but my finger slipped (nose growing) and the cosy blanket appeared in the post and 6 days later its almost finished (serious addiction) I promised myself I would stick to small projects!!!!!! Aaargh I blame you lucy he he he THANKYOU X
Posted by: Jacqui | May 23, 2019 at 07:15 AM
I am so happy for you to have your week in France and I bet it was good for you to be amongst like-minded people in such a beautiful place. I'm loving working on my Dune lap blanket, I'm making 2, one for each of my 2 granddaughters. I wish we could add photos to these comments! But I have posted photo of my progress on my blog. I'm looking forward to your next blanket idea!!
((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Posted by: Teresa Kasner | May 23, 2019 at 06:41 AM
Delightful post Lucy so good to see you here xoxo
Posted by: wendy | May 23, 2019 at 05:53 AM
Oh, so nice to read a breezy, informative post of yours; I've missed them so much; but glad to hear you enjoyed your times in France.
Posted by: Donna Philpott | May 23, 2019 at 02:58 AM
Nothing beats an impromptu picnic, especially when there's something delicious from the bakery. xx Susan
Posted by: Susan | May 23, 2019 at 01:50 AM
Oh my! I realized I have that exact same stripy jug on MY table with some flowers in it! I got it last week at a secondhand store, and couldn't get over how familiar it seemed and how I was so attracted to it. Now I know! I'm sure I've seen many other pictures of yours gracing your table. Great minds!
Posted by: Penny | May 23, 2019 at 12:07 AM
I always love it when you post about your journeys home via the farm shop or market! It reminds me of when I first started reading your blog way back, at a difficult time, and it always cheered, and still cheers me up :)
Posted by: Rosie Ann | May 22, 2019 at 11:08 PM
It all looks lovely Lucy, I made some bunting with your Moorland Blanket - leftover yarn. Here it's finished on this post if you'd like to see, Cathy x https://hooksandneedles68.blogspot.com/2018/08/hello-from-qt.html
Posted by: Hooks and Needles | May 22, 2019 at 11:02 PM